Volunteering Opportunities in Dorset

Ward-based volunteers

We have volunteers helping in many different inpatient wards across the hospital, from AMU to ED, our elderly care wards, specialist care areas and children's or maternity wards.

Our volunteers can provide an extra layer of practical support and help to ensure the wellbeing of all of our patients.  For many areas volunteers can be aged 16+, but for some of our specialist areas, the minimum age is 18 years of age.

As one of our valued ward-based volunteers, you will assist ward staff by providing refreshments to patients and relatives, spending time chatting with or befriending patients and ensuring their wellbeing.

You will help with many things and even the smallest thing can make a real difference, for example by ensuring patients can access the trust portable phones to speak to loved ones or by obtaining additional items such as pillows or extra blankets to ensure the patient's comfort and wellbeing during their stay.

This is a great role to give insight into a healthcare role and is very much valued by our patients and staff alike.

Requirements

This is an active role which aims to provide extra support to our patients and therefore you will need to be able to be mobile for the duration of your shift.

You will need to be interested in the wellbeing of our patients and able to contribute to patient care by helping and linking with others within the boundaries of our volunteer role.

Overall you will have compassion and understanding and be able to demonstrate our Trust's Values in everything you do as a volunteer with us.

A full role-description is available on request.

Outpatient volunteers

Our outpatient volunteers are key when patients arrive for their outpatient appointments.

You will meet and greet patients and direct them to their relevant clinic. You will also be required to support them with the self check in machines upon arrival.

Part of the role within  our outpatients areas would be to help manage the patient flow.

Our outpatient volunteers are extremely valuable and form a key part of the hospital; working very closely with our outpatient teams across the trust.

Requirements

This is an active role which aims to provide extra support to our patients and therefore you’ll need to be able to be mobile for the duration of your shift.

You will need to be interested in the wellbeing of our patients and able to contribute to patient care by helping and linking with others within the boundaries of our volunteer role.

Overall you will have compassion and understanding and be able to demonstrate our Trust's Values in everything you do as a volunteer with us. 

A full role-description is available on request.

Discharge Lounge

Our discharge volunteers are a valued part of our volunteering programme as they support patients preparing to leave the hospital.

You will be on hand to support patients waiting to be collected after being discharged. You role would include helping provide refreshments, talking with patients and ensuring they have all of their belongings.

Requirements

This is a proactive role which aims to provide extra support to our patients before they leave the hospital.

You will need to be interested in the wellbeing of our patients and able to contribute to patient care by helping and linking with others within the boundaries of your volunteer role.

Overall you will have compassion and understanding and be able to demonstrate our Trust's Values in everything you do as a volunteer with us.

A full role-description is available on request.

Our Healthy Stay Volunteers support patients and staff across our inpatient wards, helping to enhance the care already being provided and contributing to a positive hospital experience. Volunteers offer support both directly to patients and indirectly by assisting ward teams with a variety of non-clinical tasks that help keep the ward running smoothly.

As a Healthy Stay Volunteer, you will carry out a range of activities across different wards. Whether spending time with patients, providing practical assistance, or supporting staff, every contribution makes a meaningful difference.

Role Tasks

The types of tasks you may carry out as a Healthy Stay Volunteer include:

· Hydration rounds on wards

· Supporting mealtimes on wards and with individual patients

· General tidying to help keep areas within the ward clutter free.

· Restocking supplies including, for example, gloves and aprons and the tea trolley.

· Answering patient call bells and checking patients have what they need.

· Bed Making

Skills / Qualities required for this role

• Good communication skills
• Friendly and good with people
• Patient and caring
• A good team player
• Empathetic and sensitive
• Ability to adapt to support different wards across the hospital
• Able to use own initiative

• Physically able to carry out the role tasks.  This role does require you to be able to move around hospital wards and handling equipment such as the tea trolley.

• Ability to volunteer independently.

Shift Timings

Days - Monday to Friday

Approximate shift times:

• 1400 to 1700

We are happy to be flexible with start and finish times where possible. If you have any questions, please get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you 😊

Spending time in hospital can feel long and isolating, particularly when patients are unwell and unable to take part in their usual daily activities. Providing opportunities for safe mental and physical stimulation can improve wellbeing, boost morale, and support recovery.

Our Activity Volunteers play an important role in enhancing the patient experience, by helping to deliver a range of engaging activities for adult inpatients. Working as part of a friendly team, you may be asked to provide companionship, help patients participate in activities suited to their individual abilities, encourage meaningful engagement during their hospital stay. Your support can make a real difference to patients' wellbeing and help create a more positive hospital experience.

Role Tasks

The types of tasks you may carry out as an Activity Volunteer include:

• Providing patient companionship and a chance for patients to have a chat.
• Running a planned activity session on a ward in a bay or dayroom—for example quizzes / bingo / music
• Supporting one to one activity with a patient, for example—jigsaw puzzles or having a game of cards.
• Arts and Crafts sessions in small groups or one to one.
• Reminiscence sessions and activities using our memory boxes.
• Themed activities to coincidence with national events—i.e. Remembrance and Christmas.
• Supporting our separate activity and book trolley’s

Specific Activities

Alongside our volunteers coming in to support our activity programme, we also have opportunities for volunteers to come in to deliver specific activities, for example Therapy dogs, Music and Arts and Crafts. If you already have a trained Therapy dog, are a talented musician or have experience in delivering an activity which you think may benefit our patients please get in touch to find out what our latest opportunities are and how you can get involved

Skills / Qualities required for this role

• Good communication Skills
• Friendly and good with people
• Patient and caring
• A good team player
• Empathetic and sensitive
• Creativity skills and ability to adapt activities to support different patients.
• Able to use own initiative
• Able to use or train to use different technology to carry out activities with patients.
• Willing once confident to lead activities.
• Ability to volunteer independently.

Shift Timings

Days - Monday to Friday

Approximate shift times:

• 1000 to 1200
• 1200 to 1400
• 1400 to 1700

We are happy to be flexible with start and finish times where possible. If you have any questions, please get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you 😊

*Applications open until 31st October with Induction Training Thursday 14th January 2027, 1.30-3.30pm. Please seek permission from your school or college to attend prior to submitting an application*

The Young Volunteer Programme is designed for students aged 16-18 who are interested in gaining valuable experience within a healthcare setting. The programme provides young people with the opportunity to develop new skills, build confidence, support patients, visitors and staff, and gain an insight into careers within the NHS. Through volunteering, participants can enhance their communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills while making a positive contribution to the hospital community. The programme offers a supportive environment where young volunteers can learn, grow and make a meaningful difference.

Young Volunteer Programme Tasks

The types of tasks you may carry out include:

• Hydration rounds and replenishing water jugs
• Taking the activity or book trolley around wards
• Preparing menu cards
• Patient companionship and activities
• Mealtime support - giving out meals and encouraging patients to eat
• General tidying to help keep areas within the ward clutter free.
• Answering patient call bells and checking patients have  what they need.
• Bed Making

Skills / Qualities required for this role

• A friendly, positive, approachable manner
• Ability to be empathetic, patient and calm
• Ability to adapt to support different wards across the hospital
• Able to use own initiative
• Physically able to carry out the role tasks.  This role does require you to be able to move around hospital wards and handling equipment such as the tea trolley.
• Ability to volunteer independently

Shift timings

Days - Monday to Friday

Shifts are two hours and can be carried out any time between 9am and 5pm

If you have any questions, please get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you 😊

Working in pairs, our volunteers take a refreshments trolley around the hospital wards, providing a valued service to both patients and staff. The trolley visit is often a highlight of the day, and for some patients it can provide an important opportunity for social interaction beyond their routine contact with healthcare professionals.

Role Tasks

• Work alongside another volunteer
• Engage positively with patients, visitors and staff
• Sell a range of items including cold drinks, crisps, confectionery, puzzle books and essential toiletries
• Handle cash and card payments accurately in accordance with procedures (full training provided)

Skills / Qualities required for this role

• A friendly, approachable and compassionate manner.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Confidence in speaking with a wide range of people, including patients, visitors and staff.
• Enjoyment of working as part of a team.
• Reliability and punctuality.
• Basic numeracy skills for handling payments and transactions.
• Ability to follow procedures and maintain appropriate standards of confidentiality.
• A willingness to learn and undertake training.
• Physically able to push a trolley around hospital wards and remain active throughout the volunteering session.
• Sensitive and respectful when interacting with patients who may be unwell or vulnerable.
• Positive attitude and a commitment to providing excellent customer service.

Shift Timings

Days - Monday to Saturday

10:00am to 12:30pm. Volunteers are asked to arrive around 9:45am to help prepare and stock the trolley before the round begins. At the end of the session, volunteers assist with restocking the trolley and completing any required administrative tasks.

For further information, please contact us at dch.friends.ofdch@nhs.net 

Outpatient volunteers

Our outpatient volunteers are key when patients arrive for their outpatient appointments.

You will meet and greet patients and direct them to their relevant clinic. You will also be required to support them with the self check in machines upon arrival.

Part of the role on outpatients would be at times to help manage the patient flow or to call patients forward for their appointments or by their ticket number.

Our outpatient volunteers are extremely valuable and are a key part of the hospital working very closely with our outpatient team across the trust.

Requirements

This is an active role which aims to provide extra support to our patients and therefore you’ll need to be able to be mobile for the duration of your shift.

You will need to be interested in the wellbeing of our patients and able to contribute to patient care by helping and linking with others within the boundaries of our volunteer role.

Overall you will have compassion and understanding and be able to demonstrate our Trust's Values in everything you do as a volunteer with us. 

A full role-description is available on request.